What’s Wellness Got To Do With It?

As many of you have probably noticed, wellness is a pretty hot topic right now. It’s been sprinkled throughout the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and all over the news. But, I’m sure you’re all wondering, what does wellness really have to do with the cost of health care?

Some reasons are pretty obvious. We all get that healthy people need less healthcare. But, I think what’s really surprising to most people are the facts and stats around the correlation between wellness and health care costs.

Did you know?

70% of illnesses and associated costs are preventable

1 Million deaths are due in large part to preventable causes each year

1 in 3 U.S. adults are considered obese

Figures like these contribute to the reason why our country spends more dollars on health care than any other country in the world. We know that the future of cost containment will need to dramatically shift focus from merely treating sickness to preventing sickness in the first place.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, about $0.95 of every dollar we spend on healthcare in the United States is spent on treatment, and only $.05 on prevention. We have an opportunity to bend the curve and provide our employees and their families with the necessary tools & resources to prevent many of these chronic conditions.

The cost containment of wellness extends far beyond the cost of healthcare. Many employers see a huge return on their wellness investment through:

Decreased absenteeism

Improved productivity

Reduced workers’ compensation injuries

Happier, healthier employees

Improved morale

Enhanced recruiting and retaining efforts

You can impact your bottom line with an effective, carefully planned out wellness program. Yes, it will take time. Yes, it will take commitment. Yes, it will require an investment. But the benefits are HUGE. We can no longer afford to wait for people to get sick. If we keep doing what we’re doing, nothing will improve.

Let’s make a change! Who’s with me?!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jill Micklow

Jill Micklow is a Wellness Manager on Assurance’s Risk Management team. With a passion for improving the health of companies and their employees, Jill works closely with her clients to create large-scale corporate wellness programs. After first identifying her clients' specific health and wellness goals, Jill then helps to develop, implement and manage a strategic wellness program tailored to their needs. Jill joined Assurance in 2009 and has since received certifications as a Group Benefits Associate (GBA), Certified Worksite Wellness Specialist (CWWS) and Certified Worksite Wellness Program Manager (CWWPM). Jill is proud to serve as 2018 Co-Chair on the American Heart Association Worksite Wellness Committee. Prior to Assurance, she graduated Summa cum Laude from St. Norbert College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Finance.

Thank you

Dear ,Thanks for your inquiry. We’ll review your request and be in touch soon. In the meantime, we invite you to visit the Assurance blog for the latest and greatest when it comes to insurance thought leadership and industry specific articles. Happy reading.-Your Friends at Assurance

Dear ,Thank you for your interest in a career with Assurance. All open positions are currently listed on our careers page. If you’re interested in learning more about us, connect with us on LinkedIn and like us on Facebook where you’ll learn about all of our company updates.-Your Friends at Assurance